Lasting machine



A. WEINSCHENK Get. 10, 1967 LAS'I'ING MACHINE 4 Shees-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1965 INVENTOR ///1eri lt 'r fl/r BY 7% Attorneys Oct. 10, 1967 A. WEINSCHENK 3,345,659

LASTING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2a 29 3 1.3 145 1.2 37 }]31, 20 K /gu/ 14 27 12 L4 nu I I w I I NVENTOR Oct. 10, 1967 A. WEINSCHENK LASTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 7, 1965 FIG.7

LASTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-5heet 4 Filed May 7, 1965 FIG.8

mit these lasting tools to carry United States Patent Claims 14, 1964,

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lasting machine for the toe or heel portion of a shoe and having two wipers which are pivotable with respect to one another and two wiper extensions each pivotably mounted on a respective one of the wipers, the extensions being separately controllable for a pivoting movement with respect to their associated wipers only after the wipers have reached a predetermined angular position during their inward pivotable movement.

The present invention relates to a lasting machine which is provided with wipers for lasting the front part of a shoe and with further lasting tools for lasting the ball portion and possibly also the shank, and in which these lasting tools form extensions of the wipers.

In the known types of lasting machines of this kind, the wiper extensions are rigidly connected to the wipers while the lasting operation is being carried out, so that the wiper extensions can be pivoted from their outer starting position in the direction toward the central longitudinal plane of the last only about an angle which corresponds to the angle about which the wipers themselves are pivotable. This has primarily the disadvantage that within the ball portion of the shoe the leather cannot be shifted to such an extent in the direction toward the toe that a clean lasting operation can be carried out within the shank area. If in the known machines the shoe is lasted by gluing the parts together only up to and including the ball portion, it often occurs that, after the partly lasted shoe has been removed from the machine, a part of the gluedjoint between the lasting margin and the insole must again be ripped apart so as to permit the leather to be subsequently drawn so far toward the toe that the shank may be properly lasted. A further disadvantage of the known lasting machine consists in the fact that they do not permit the wiper extensions to be pivoted as far as may be required by the width of the shank. If a shank has a considerable width as in mans shoes, it would be generally desirable to permit the ends of the wiper extensions which reach into the shank area to be pivotabie farther than it is possible with a narrow shank. This would also require the wiper extensions to be pivotable for a greater angular distance than the wipers themselves which,

however, is impossible in the known lasting machines which are equipped with wiper extensions.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lasting machine with wiper extensions which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages. For attaining this object, the invention provides that the wiper extensions are designed so as to form lasting tools which during the lasting operation are pivotable at least temporarily relative to and independently of the wipers in the direction toward the central longitudinal plane of the last. The invention further provides suitable driving means to perout such independent pivotal movements. A lasting machine which is designed in this manner permits the wiper extensions to pivot not only toward the central longitudinal plane of the last but also 3,345,659 Patented Oct. 10, 1967 toward the toe of the shoe so that the material of the upper may be wiped toward the toe and the folds which are formed in the lasting margin of the upper within the ball portion thereof will likewise be pushed forwardly toward the toe area. This has the further advantage that a shoe which has thus been partly lasted on the machine accord ing to the invention may immediately thereafter be further lasted within the shank area without requiring the glued joint between the lasting margin and the insole again to be severed within the ball portion of the shoe.

A further object of the invention consists in designing the lasting machine which is provided with such independently pivotable wiper extensions so as to permit both right and left shoes to be lasted on the same machine. Another object of the invention is to provide suitable means for controlling the opening operation of the grippers for pulling over the upper prior to the lasting operation so as to be in accordance with the extent of the inward pivoting movement of the wiper extensions.

The present invention is specifically concerned with a lasting machine for the toe or heel portion of a shoe, which machine essentially includes a pair of wipers for lasting such shoe portion and a pair of wiper extensions, one for each wiper, each pivotally connected to its respective wiper. The machine according to the present invention further includes wiper drive means operatively associated with the wipers for pivoting them inwardly toward their common median plane during a lasting operation, and extension drive means operatively associated with the ex tensions for permitting the extensions to move in unison with their respective wipers during at least the first part of the inward pivotable movement of the wipers and for pivoting the extensions inwardly relative to the wipers, independently of any contact between the wipers and the shoe, after the wipers have reached a predetermined adj'ustable angular position.

The above-mentioned as well as numerous other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a top view of the part of a lasting machine to which the present invention relates in particular, in which the lasting tools are shown in the initial position;

FIGURE 2 shows a view similar to FIGURE 1, in which the lasting tools are shown in the inwardly pivoted operating position;

FIGURE 3 shows a view of the machine as seen in the direction of the arrow A in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 shows a cross section which is taken along the line IV-IV of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 shows a cross section which is taken along the line VV of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 shows a top view of a secondary embodiment of a lasting machine according to the invention which is provided with a mechanism for controlling the opening of the grippers in accordance with the extent of the pivoting movement of the wiper extensions;

scirption and in the drawings by the same reference numerals.

is taken along The working end of a piston rod 1, the piston of which is removable by a pressure medium within a cylinder, carries a crosspiece 2 on which one end of each of two arm 3 is pivotably mounted. The bearings for the other end of these two arms 3 are mounted on the wiper carriers 25 on which the wipers 4 for lasting the front part of a shoe are mounted. These two wipers are pivotably connected to each other at their end 5 which is located in front of the toe of the shoe. On the upper side of each of the wiper carriers 25 two rollers 6 and 7 are mounted, each of which is slidable along a cam slot 6' or 7, respectively, which is cut into the lower side of a cam plate 8.

Each wiper 4 is provided near its other end with a recess 9 which forms the bearing for a bolt 10 on which an angular member 11 is mounted so as to be freely rotatable. This angular member 11 has an arm 11', the inner edge of which, which is adapted to face the last which is located between the lasting tools but has been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity of illustration, forms an extension of the working edge 4' of the wiper 4. The other arm 11" of the angular member 11 is connected to driving means for effecting the pivoting movement of the wiper extension 11' relative to the Wipers 4. These driving means will be subsequently described in detail.

Each wiper extension 11' has a plurality of leaf springs 12 secured thereto in the manner as illustrated in FIG- URES 4 and 5. Each of these leaf springs is bent at an angle over the inner edge of the wiper extension 11 facing the last so as to form two arms 12 and 12" and it is secured to the lower side of the wiper extension 11 by means of screws 13 passing through the arm 12'. The other arm 12" is adapted, when the lasting tool is being applied, to engage upon the bottom of the last or upon the pieces of material thereon, that is, upon the insole and the lasting margin of the upper. From the bending point 12" of each leaf spring 12 the spring arm 12" extends at an increasing distance from the body of the wiper extension 11' and therefore at an acute angle thereto. By comparison between FIGURES 4 and 5 it will be seen that the spring arms 12" of the different springs 12 vary in angularity. The angle between arms 12 and 12" increases from the spring which is mounted adjacent the end of the wiper toward the spring which is most remote from this end. As indicated in FIGURES 4 and 5, this may be attained in a simple manner by bending the individual springs so that the radius of curvature of their bent portion 12 increases toward the shank of the shoe. The working surface of the lasting tool which is formed by the series of spring arms 12" thus defines a shape which is roughly in accordance with the contour of the last bottom area so as to ensure that the lasting margin of the upper will be firmly pressed against insole by each spring arm 12". The angularity of the spring arms 12" is preferably adjusted in accordance with a last of the greatest angularity to be met in actual practice. The difierences in angularity between the individual types of lasts or shoes are compensated for by the resilience of the different spring arms 12".

The springs 12 are preferably designed so that only their working arms 12 overlap each other so as to form a closed work surface.

As already mentioned above, the arm 11" of the angul'ar member 11 is connected to driving means for pivoting the wiper extensions 11 relative to the wipers themselves. For this purpose, the arm 11 is acted upon by a lever 14 which by means of its hub is pivotably mounted on a shaft 15 which, in turn, is mounted on a bracket 18 which is rigidly secured to the supporting plate 16 of the wiper carriers by screws 17. The free end of the lever 14 is bifurcated and, while one arm 14' of the bifurcated part is integral with the lever 14, the other arm 14" is secured thereto by a screw 19.

The two arms 14' and 14" of lever 14 enclose a roller 20 which is mounted by means of a washer 21 on the 4 stud 22 of a screw 23, as shown in FIGURE 3, so as to be freely rotatable thereon. Roller 20 is guided between the head 24 of screw 23 and the angular member 11 into which the screw 23 is screwed.

The unit which consists of the angular member 11, the screw 23, and the roller 20 is held between the wiper carrier 25 and its extension 25 and an extension part 27 which is secured to the cam plate 8 by means of screws 26. If the screw 19 is loosened and the arm 14" of lever 14 is removed from the latter and after the angular member 11 has been swiveled out of its position between the extension part 27 of cam plate 8 and the extension part 25' of the wiper carrier, the angular member 11 may be removed.

Lever 14 is acted upon by a driving rod 30 which is slidably mounted in a guide member 29. The end of driving rod 30 facing the lever 14 is provided with a bifurcated part 31 which forms the bearing of a roller 32 which is rotatable about the axis of a pin 33 and forms the element by means of which the entire driving unit engages against an abutting face or abutting edge 34 of lever 14. By means of a pair of screws 35, a leaf-shaped or rod-shaped guide member 36 is secured to the bifurcated part 31 in a position so as to permit it to slide along a groove 37 which is provided in the outer side of the guide member 29. The driving rod 30 is in this manner prevented from turning within the guide member 29 so that the roller 32 will not slide laterally off the abutting surface 34 of lever 14.

The guide members 29 for the driving rods 30 on both sides of the machine are connected to a shaft 38 which extends perpendicularly to the central plane of the machine. Each end of the shaft 38 is for this purpose secured by means of a screw 39 Within a bore 40 in an angular part 29 of each guide member 29.

A pin 41 which is screwed together with the bracket 18 at each end of the shaft 38 prevents the guide members 29 from turning over when the shaft 38 is being shifted. Shaft 38 together with the guide members 29 which are rigidly connected thereto are mounted on the bracket 18 so as to be slidable in a direction perpendicular to the central plane of the machine. As already mentioned, bracket 18 is screwed to the supporting plate 16 of the wiper carriers.

Shaft 38 carries a spring 67, one end of which engages upon a ring 69 which is secured to the shaft by a screw 68, while the other end of this spring engages upon an eye 28 which forms an integral part of the bracket 18. The driving means for effecting the pivoting movements of each wiper extension further include a screw 42 which is mounted in a rod 43 which is secured by screws 44 to the crosspiece 2 which is mounted on the piston rod 1. Screw 42 is prevented from turning by a lock nut 45. Rod 43 is acted upon by a tension spring 46 which is connected at its other end to the lever 14.

Rod 43 at the left side of the machine as shown in FIGURE 1 carries a pawl 47 which is pivotably mounted on a bolt 48 within a groove in the rod 43 so as to be movable within a plane which extends perpendicularly to the central plane of the machine.

Pawl 47 is acted upon by a spring 49 which tends to turn the pawl in a clockwise direction about the bolt 48. Spring 49 presses with one end upon the pawl 47, while its other end is supported on a projection 43' on rod 43 which also serves as a stop for limiting the pivoting movement of pawl 47 in the clockwise direction.

Pawl 47 forms a component of a ratchet mechanism which serves for the purpose which will hereafter be described in detail. The other parts of this ratchet mechanism consist of a ratchet wheel 52, provided with teeth, and a cam plate 53. Both of these elements are mounted on a common shaft 54 and are secured thereto by screws 55 (FIGURE 3). Shaft '54 may be turned step-by-step by means of a hand wheel 56. Shaft 54 is prevented from turning of its own accord by a ball 59 which is acted upon by the pressure of a spring 58 which is located in the housing 57. This ball or locking member 59 may engage into recesses 71 which are provided in the cam plate 53 at the side thereof facing the housing 57. When the hand Wheel 56 is turned, the spring pressure acting upon the locking member 59 may be overcome and the latter may thereby be forced out of the particular recess 71 in which it is then located so that the ratchet wheel 52 and thus also the cam plate 53 may be turned one step further, that is, until the locking member 59 will engage into the next following recess 71 in the direction of rotation.

Normally, however, the ratchet mechanism is not operated by hand but automatically by the pawl 47 in the course of the operation of the machine. The step-by-step rotation of the ratchet wheel 52 which then occurs is intended to actuate a two-armed lever 60 which is mounted on a bolt 61 so as to be pivotable thereabout. Bolt 61 is secured by means of a screw 63 in an eye which is integral with the housing 57. Housing 57 is secured by screws 68 on a main bearing 67'.

The lower end (as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2) of lever 60 carries a projecting pin 64 which engages into a corresponding recess in the angular part 29 of the guide member 29. On its other end, lever 60 is provided with roller 66 which is mounted on a bolt 65 and is movable along the peripheral surface of cam plate 53.

The manner of operation of the mechanism as above described is as follows:

At the beginning of a work cycle of the lasting machine, the driving means for the wipers 4 and the wiper extensions 11' are located in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1. If by means of a hydraulic unit, not shown, the piston rod 1 is moved forwardly, the crosspiece 2 and the two rods 43 thereon are likewise moved in the same direction. As a result of this movement, the wipers 4 will be pivoted inwardly, that is, toward the last, not shown, which is effected by the connection between the crosspiece 2 and the wiper carriers 25 by means of the arms 3 and the movement of the rollers 6 and 7 of the wiper carriers along the cam slots 6 and 7 in the cam plate 8. During this inward movement of the wipers 4, the wiper extensions 11' are also moved toward the last since the arm 11" of the angular member 11 engages with its edge facing the wiper 4 against an opposite edge 4" of wiper 4 which is formed by the recess 9 in the wiper 4 and acts as a stop for the wiper extension.

During the inward pivoting movement of the wipers 4, the head 42 of the screws 42 which are connected to the rods 43 approach the associated driving rods 30. As soon as the screw head 42' abuts against the driving rod 30, the driving means for the inward pivoting movement of the wiper extensions 11 relative to the wipers 4 are positively connected to the driving source for the wipers 4 so that at a further movement of piston rod 1 the roller 32 on the driving rod 30 is pressed against the abutting surface 34 of lever 14 which then exerts by its bifurcated part 14, 14" through the roller 20 a torque upon the angular member 11 so that the arm 11' of the latter which forms the wiper extension is pivoted about the axis in a counterclockwise direction in the case of the lefthand wiper (as shown in FIGURE 1) and in a clockwise direction for the other wiper. This inward pivoting movement of the wiper extensions 11 relative to the inward movement of the wipers 4 starts during any one work cycle of the machine with a certain delay relative to the inward pivoting movement of the wipers 4. However, as soon as the screw head 42 engages with the driving rod 30, the angular velocity of the wiper extension 11' becomes larger than that of the wipers 4, and therefore they precede the latter. This has the result that the wiper extensions 11 pivot inwardly not only toward the central plane of the last but also toward the toe portion of the last. Consequently, the leather of the lasting margin of the upper within the ball portion of the shoe and also within the shank will be pushed forwardly in the manner desired for a proper lasting operation if the wiper extensions are made of a suitable length. The final position of the wipers 4 and the wiper extensions 11', and also of the driving means for these elements may be seen in FIGURE 2.

When the piston rod 1 is retracted, the wipers 4 will be pivoted outwardly to their initial position. The tension springs 46 which act upon the levers 14 then turn the angular members 11 around the axes 10' (in a clockwise direction for the left-hand wiper) until. the arms 11" again engage against the stop edges 4" of the wipers 4. By the same movement, the wiper extensions 11' are likewise returned to their initial positions relative to the wipers 4.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the wiper extension 11' at the left side of the drawing, when in its final position is pivoted farther inwardly and toward the toe than the wiper extension of the other side, considering that in the ball and shank area the contour of the last at one side thereof is different from that of the other side. This, in turn, requires that the lasting tools for lasting the ball and shank portions at the inner side must be pivoted farther inwardly than the lasting tools which act upon the outer side, and that the extent of this inward pivoting movement may also be controlled so as to be in accordance with the width of the shank. This may be attained in the first instance by adjusting the screws 42 which form parts of the driving means for the wiper extension 11' so as to project at different distances from the rods 43. This has the result that the driving rod 30 which is associated with one wiper extension 11' will be moved sooner, and that therefore the associated lever 14 and the angular member 11 will be pivoted for a greater angular distance than the driving rod 30 and the lever 14 and the wiper extension 11 which are associated with the lasting mechanism at the other side of the machine.

In order to render such a manual adjutsment of the different extent of the pivoting movement of the two wiper extensions 11' superfluous and to permit a quick lasting of left and right shoes on the same machine in alternating succession, the machine asshown in the drawings is provided with the ratchet mechanism, as already described above, which permits the extent of the inward pivoting movements of the two wiper extensions 11' to be alternately varied automatically. This automatic change occurs as follows:

When the lasting tools are moved back to their initial position, the pawl 47 which is mounted on rod 43 which is located at the left side of the machine as shown in FIGURES l and 2 moves toward the ratchet wheel 52 which is provided with the teeth 52 until the pawl engages upon one tooth of this wheel and thereby starts a rotation of the latter in the clockwise direction, in which the spring 49 ensures that the pawl will remain in engagement with the ratchet tooth. During the rotation of the ratchet wheel 52 which is caused by the pawl 47, the roller 66 on lever 60 will roll along the cam surfaces of the cam plate 53, the peripheral surface of which is provided with three rounded cam projections 53' and with intermediate plane contact surfaces 53" which do not project as far from the shaft 54. When the roller 66 reaches one of the cam projections 53, lever 60 will be turned about the axis 61 in the counterclockwise direction so that the rod 38 will be shifted toward the right as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing. This has the result that the leverage between the point of engagement of the roller 32 on the driving rod 30 with the lever 14 and the axis 15 thereof on the left side of the machine as shown decreases in comparison to the corresponding leverage of the means for driving the wiper extension 11' on the right side of the machine so that during the following work cycle of the machine the pivoting movement of the wiper extension 11' at the right side will start sooner than that on the other side and will therefore also extend inwardly for a greater distance than the latter. A reverse rotation of the stepping mechanism and a reverse movement of lever 38 cannot occur because of the locking action of the locking member 59. The stepping mechanism will not be further turned until the pawl 47, which disengages from the ratchet wheel 52, during the movement of the lasting tools to their working position, is again moved toward the ratchet wheel and engages against another ratchet tooth 52, at which time the roller 66 engages against a surface portion 53 of the cam plate 53 which does not project as far as the cam portion 53'. At this moment, the shaft 38 will be moved toward the left of the drawing by the spring 67 which is mounted on the shaft 38. This has the result that the leverage decreases between the point of engagement of the driving rod 30 on the lever 14 and the pivot axis 15 of the latter at the right side of the machine as shown, i.e. the leverage which determines the extent of the inward pivoting movement of the right-hand wiper extension 11'. During the following work cycle of the machine, the wiper extension 11' on the left side ofthe machine is therefore moved further inwardly and toward the toe than the other wiper extension. The final position which the lasting tools will reach in this case is illustrated in FIGURE 2. If the machine thereafter moves again to its initial position, a new switching operation takes place in which the shaft 38 together with the guide members 29 and the driving rods 30 are again moved toward the right.

By operating the hand wheel 56, it is possible to interfere with this automatic reversing rhythm. This may become necessary, for example, if for some reason two left shoes or two right shoes should be lasted during two successive work cycles of the machine.

The mechanism has hereinbefore been described with reference to a toe lasting machine. It is however to be understood that, the invention may equally well be embodied in a heel lasting machine provided with wipers for lasting the heel portion of shoes.

It has been found that for uniformly pulling-over and uniformly lasting the upper, it is of advantage if the operation of opening the grippers which engage upon the edge of the upper within the ball and shank areas is controlled in relationship to the size of the angle of the inward pivoting movement of the wiper extensions in such a manner that the larger this pivoting angle is made, the later this opening movement should occur. This further feature is illustrated in the embodiment of FIGURES 6 to 9. It permits the grippers which are located at the inner side of the last for working on the ball portion or the shank to grip the edge of the upper until during the lasting process the associated wiper extension is pivoted almost to the inner end of its movement, even though the outer gripper or grippers have already opened sooner. The grippers will thus not release the leather until the pivoting movement of the wiper extensions reaches its final stage. The pulling-over tension which is exerted by the grippers is therefore maintained until the lasting operation is almost completed.

The design and arrangement of the grippers may be of the conventional type and therefore they do not need to be described in detail. For the sake of clarity of the drawings, the grippers have also been omitted therefrom.

In the subsequent description, the mechanism will be described in detail which permits the grippers to open in relationship to the size of the angle of the inward pivoting movement of the wiper extensions in such a manner that the larger this pivoting angle is made, the later the opening movement of the grippers will occur.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the end of lever 60 carries a crowned roller 80 which engages with a certain amount of play between the arms of the bifurcated part 81 of a slide member 82 which is movable along a rod 83 which is secured to the machine frame 85 by means of a bracket 84. The slide member 82 carries an arm 86 which is provided near its forward end with guide surfaces 87 for stop members 88 and 88 which are adjustable to different positions along the guide surfaces 87 by means of setscrews 89 and 89.

Arm 86 is adapted to act upon the valve member 91 of a control valve 90, as shown in detail in FIGURE 7, which is provided for controlling the opening movement of the grippers. For this purpose, an outwardly projecting pin 92 is provided near the upper end of the valve member 91. For sealing the opening between the pin 92 and the valve housing 94, packing 93 is provided. As shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, the valve housing 94 is provided with three connection ports. Port 95 serves for the supply of pressure oil which comes from a main control valve, port 96 forms the connection leading to the ball gripper and/ or the shank gripper, and port 97 forms the connection for a return pipe. Valve member 91 has two cylindrical surfaces or hands 99 and 100' for sealing the cylinder bore 98. The wall of this bore 98 is provided with annular grooves 101 and 102. A compression spring tends to press the valve member 91 always in the upward direction as shown in FIGURES 7 to 9.

FIGURE 9 illustrates that, whenever the valve member 91 is in its upper position, as shown at the left side of FIGURE 9, pressure oil may flow from the main control valve through the port 95 and the annular channel between the cylinder wall 98 and the area 104 to the port 96 and thus to the ball and/ or shank gripper, not shown. If the valve member 91 is in its lowest position, as shown at the right side of FIGURE 9, the band 99 of the valve member 91 closes the annular groove 101, so that no further pressure oil can be supplied from the main control valve through the port 95. When valve member 91 is in its lowest position, a connection is also formed between the port 96, which is connected to the line leading to the ball gripper, and the port 97 to which the return line is connected. This connection leads through the annular groove 102 and through bores 105 in the wall of the valve member, which is hollow at its lower end 106, to the return port 97. Valve member 91 is further provided with a bore 107 through which the oil which is located above the valve member may flow to the return line.

A roller 108 is connected by means of an angular arm 109 via the rod 43 to the crosspiece 2. Therefore, roller 10-8 follows the movements of the crosspiece.

The mechanism as above described, which is provided pm each of the two sides of the machine, operates as folows:

As already mentioned, cam 53 controls the pivoting movements of lever 60 and thereby causes a transverse movement of rod 38 to one of its end positions. Due to the different points of engagement of the rollers 32 on the levers 14, the ball grippers will therefore carry out pivoting movements of different sizes.

Since the roller 80 engages between the two arms of the bifurcated part 81, the pivoting movement of levers 60 on each side of the machine results in a lateral movement of the slide member 82 and thus also in a corresponding movement of the stop members 88 and 88' which are provided on the arm 86 which projects from this slide member. In FIGURE 6, the slide members 82 of both sides of the machine are shown as being shifted toward the left. The left slide member 82 is therefore shifted away from the machine frame, while the right slide member 82 is shifted toward the machine frame.

When the mechanism is in the position as shown in FIGURE 6, the stop member 88 on the inner side of the left part of the machine and the stop member 88 on the outer side of the right part of the machine are located underneath the respective rollers 108. As may be clearly seen in FIGURE 6, the left roller 108 engages with the stop member 88' sooner than the right roller 108 engages with the stop member 88. The lever 86 on the left side of the machine is therefore depressed sooner than the lever 86 on the right side of the machine. Levers 86 therefore do not press simultaneously but successively upon the pins 92 of valve members 91. Consequently, the outer gripper which, when the machine is adjusted as shown in FIGURE 6, would be located at the left side of the machine, will be opened sooner since, as previously described, the valve 90 which is associated with this gripper then interrupts the supply of pressure oil from the main control valve and permits the discharge of the oil to the return line. The valve which is associated with the inner gripper, which,when the machine is adjusted as shown in FIGURE 6, would be located at the right side of the machine, will therefore not be changed and the inner gripper will therefore not be opened until later. The wiper extension 11' on the left side of the machine has therefore carried out a smaller pivoting movement than the wiper extension on the other side. The machine as adjusted in accordance with FIGURE 6 has therefore been used to last'a left shoe. For the next work cycle of the machine in which a right shoe is to be lasted, the adjustment of the machine is changed by the cam plate 53. At this time the slide members 82 are also shifted so that the valve at the right side on the machine frame in FIGURE 6 will open before the valve on the left side of the machine frame.

The delay at which the ball and/ or shank gripper which lasts the inner side of the shoe should open subsequently to the outer gripper varies in accordance with the different sizes, types, and models of shoes. For varying this delay, the stop members 88 and 88' may be adjusted relative to each other by means of the screws 89 and 89'. The more the two stop members are ofiset relative to each other, the larger will be the delay.

Several grippers may be provided on one or both sides of the machine for lasting the ball portion and/or the shank of a shoe.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, I wish to have it understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiments but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention, what I claim is:

1. A lasting machine for the toe or heel portion of a shoe and comprising, in combination:

(a) a pair of wipers for lasting such shoe portion;

(b) wiper drive means operatively associated with said wipers for pivoting them inwardly toward their common median plane during a lasting operation;

(c) a pair of wiper extensions, one for each said wiper, each pivotally connected to its respective wiper; and

(d) extension drive means operatively associated with said extensions for permitting said extensions to move in unison with their respective wipers during at least the first part of the inward pivotal movement of said wipers and for pivoting said extensions inwardly relative to said wipers, independently of any contact between said wipers and such shoe, after said wipers have reached a predetermined, adjustable angular position.

2. A lasting machine as defined in claim 1 wherein, each said wiper extension is pivotable about an axis located near the end of its associated wiper.

3. A lasting machine as defined in claim 1 wherein each said wiper has associated therewith a stop member arranged for carrying the associated wiper extension along with said wiper during the first part of the inward pivoting movement of said wiper.

4. A lasting machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said extension drive means comprise cooperating adjusting means for varying the extent of the inward pivoting movement of said wiper extensions relative to said wipers.

5. A lasting machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said extension drive means are provided, for each said ex tension, with a lever arranged to act upon its respective wiper extension and pivotable about a stationary axis, and with a driving element arranged to act upon said lever.

6. A lasting machine as defined in claim 5 further comprising a source of power for driving elements and coupled thereto only during the final part of the inward pivotal movement of said wipers.

7. A lasting machine for lasting both left and right shoes as defined in claim 1 further comprising a switch mechanism for controlling said extension drive means to cause said wiper extensions to pivot during two successive work cycles by alternate complementary amounts.

8. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said extension drive means are arranged to be coupled to, and driven by, said wiper drive means when said extensions are to be pivoted inwardly relative to said wipers.

9. An arrangement as defined in claim 6 further comprising a switch mechanism for controlling said extension drive means to cause said wiper extensions to pivot during two successive work cycles by alternate complementary amounts, said switch mechanism including: a shaft; a ratchet wheel and a cam plate mounted on said shaft; a pawl operatively associated with said ratchet wheel and connected to said extension drive means, said pawl being arranged to advance said ratchet wheel by one step during each work cycle of said machine; and a further lever cooperating with said cam plate and with one said driving element for varying the distance between the pivot axis of said lever and the point of contact between said driving element and said lever during successive work cycles of said machine.

10. An arrangement as defined in claim 9 further comprising an additional shaft mounted for movement in a direction perpendicular to the median plane of said machine, said additional shaft being connected to said further lever and cooperating with both of said driving elements for moving said driving elements simultaneously during any particular work cycle in such a manner that the point of engagement of one said driving element with its associated lever is moved toward the axis of its associated lever while the point of engagement of the other said driving element with its associated lever is moved away from the pivot axis of its associated lever.

11. An arrangement as defined in claim 9 further comprising: grippers for gripping the edge of the upper of such shoe in the ball and shank area thereof, at least one said gripper being associated with each said wiper extension; and control means for controlling the opening of the at least one said gripper associated with each said wiper extension in relation to the degree of inward pivotal movement of said associated extension relative to its associated wiper in such a manner that the greater such degree of inward pivotal movement, the later said at least one associate-d gripper will be opened, said control means including, for each said wiper extension: a hydraulic switch valve; an actuating lever arranged for actuating said valve and having an operating stroke dependent upon the degree of inward pivotal movement of its associated wiper extension relative to its associated wiper; two stop members associated with, and adjacent to, said actuating lever and extending parallel to said actuating lever, said stop members being adjustable to different offset positions relative to each other; and a pressure exerting member arranged to act alternately upon said two stop members during two successive work cycles for commencing the operating stroke of said actuating lever, said actuating lever being operatively associated with said further lever so as to be adjustable relative to said pressure exerting member.

12. An arrangement as defined in claim 11 wherein said pressure exerting member is coupled to said wiper drive means for movement toward and away from said stop members.

13. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 further comprising: grippers for gripping the edge of the upper of said shoe, in the ball and shank area thereof, at least one said gripper being associated with each said wiper extension; and control means for controlling the opening of said at least one gripper associated with each said wiper extension in relation to the degree of inward pivotal movement of said extension relative to its associated wiper in such a manner that the greater such degree of pivotal movement, the later said at least one gripper will be opened.

14. An arrangement as defined in claim 13 wherein said control means further comprise, for each said wiper extension: a hydraulic switch valve; and an actuating lever arranged for actuating said valve and having an operating stroke dependent upon the degree of inward pivotal movement of its associated wiper extension relative to its associated wiper.

15. An arrangement as defined in claim 14 wherein said control means further comprise, for each said wiper extension: two stop members associated with, and adjacent to, said actuating lever, said stop members extending parallel to said actuating lever and being adjustable to different offset positions relative to each other; and a pressure exerting member connected for actuating alternately upon said stop members during two successive work cycles for commencing the operating stroke of said actuating lever.

16. An arrangement as defined in claim 15 wherein said pressure exerting member is coupled to said wiper drive means for movement toward and away from said stop member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,182,834 12/1939 Winkley 12-712 2,869,155 1/1959 Finn 12-12X PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LASTING MACHINE FOR THE TOE OR HEEL PORTION OF A SHOE AND COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A PAIR OF WIPERS FOR LASTING SUCH SHOE PORTION; (B) WIPER DRIVE MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID WIPERS FOR PIVOTING THEM INWARDLY TOWARD THEIR COMMON MEDIAN PLANE DURING A LASTING OPERATION; (C) A PAIR OF WIPER EXTENSIONS, ONE FOR EACH SAID WIPER, EACH PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO ITS RESPECTIVE WIPER; AND (D) EXTENSION DRIVE MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID EXTENSIONS FOR PERMITTING SAID EXTENSIONS TO MOVE IN UNISON WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE WIPERS DURING AT LEAST THE FIRST PART OF THE INWARD PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF 